Container



@ct l2, E937., G. T. Hon-rom. 2,095,256

' CONTAINER l Filed oct. 5, 1955 4 sheds-sheet 1 0d. l2, man G, T, HORTON 2,095,25@

CONTAINER v Filed oct. 5, 1935 4 sheets-sheet 2 if 12, 197., G, T, HORTON 2,095,256v

CONTAINER Filed Oct. 5, 1955 4 Shen-:gizsJ-Sheerl 4 y. ZN

Z 573 2W I U6 7 l 560? e 27j/72673557; Jy @WQ/@ M Patented ocr. .12, 1937 IUNITED STATES;

PTENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to -improvements in containers and, more especially, a closed container particularly adapted for holding liquids with gas pressure above the liquid. The container will find use, for example, for the storage of volatile liquids like naphtha and gasoline, where it is desired to prevent evaporation losses by holding the tures of my invention shown in the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a top plan view; Fig. 2 is a view in end elevation; Fig. 3 is a view taken as indicated by the line 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. i is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a modication; Fig. 5 is a view taken as indicated by the line 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view taken as indicated by the line t of Fig. 4; Fig. 'i is a view taken as indicated by the line 'I of Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. d showing a modied form; Fig. 9 is an end view of the same; Fig. 10 is a view taken as indicated by the line It of Fig. 8; and Fig. 11 is a view taken I as indicated by the line I I of Fig. 8.

As shown in the drawings, my improved container comprises a plurality of portions, each in the form of a ilattened cylindrical section. The tank may include any desired number oi such portions, Vdepending upon the size and capacity desired. Each of the portions also may have practically any dimensions or proportions desired, but obviously the different portions oi the complete tank must be made to t together. i

In generaLit may be stated that each portion of the tank is in the shape of a ilattened cylindrical section. The various portions are parallelly arranged so that there are two end sections with any desired number oi intermediate sec- 50 tions.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, I have shown in the drawings a tank including two :nd portions with three intermediate portions. As shown in the drawings, the end portions are 55 indicated by Ill, III and the intermediate portions In those forms of devices embodying the fea-v by II, II, II. Each of these portions is substantially in the shape of a. flattened cylindrical section with the ends suitably closed. Each of the end portions I 0 is a section of a ilattened cylinder formed by cutting off one side of the lcomplete 5 flattened cylinder. The intermediate portions II are flattened cylindrical sections formed by cutting off two opposite parallel sides of a iiattened cylinder.

In the form shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the ends 10 of the sections are closed by outwardly curved plates Iii, II,- respectively. These outwardly curved closures, for example, may be substantially spherical. Inside of the tank at the roof under the lines where the various sections join I 15 provide I-beams I2, I2 and similar I-beams i 3, I3 inside of the tank on the bottom. It, It indicate posts connecting the I-beams I2 at the roof with the corresponding I-beams I3 at the bottom. These posts are primarilytension members to brace the structure against internal gas pressures, but obviously they may also serve at times as compression members to aid in supporting the roof against downward movement,

Inside 'of the tank'I prefer to provide hori- 25 zontal trussing I5 at the roof and also vertical trussing It at the sides of the tank.

I also provide outside girders II a. short distance above the ground levelvsubstantially where the bottom of the tank may be said to join the 30 side and the end walls. These girders are supported by Vertical and diagonal trussing I8 resting on a girder I9 supported on the ground 20. 2i indicate horizontal members extending from the girder I9 inwardly to the tank to assist in 35 bracing the girder I9.

In Figs. 4, 5 and 6, I have shown a modied form. The structure here shown substantially resembles that shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, except that the ends of the various sections are closed 40 by causing the outer sections to' form portions of a square-like peripheral flattened cylindrical section extending entirely around the complete container and closing the ends of the intermediate sections.

'As shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, H0, Il@ may in'- dicate end ilattened cylindrical sections and III, III and III intermediate iiattened cylindrical sections corresponding to the sections I0, I0 and II, Ii, Ii of Fig. 1. In the container of Figs. 4, 5 and 6, however, the ends of the section Iliare not closed by outwardly curved plates. Instead oi.' this, the outer sections lill form portions oi.' a square-like peripheral flattened cylindrical section extending entirely around the container and closing the ends of the intermediate sections III, III. This is accomplished by providing the portions ||0, ||0 joining the ends of the portions ||0, ||0 so that the four sections I|0, H0", ||0, H0 together constitute a square-like peripheral endless attened cylindrical section extending entirely around the container.

'Ihe container of Figs. 4, 5 and 6 is similarly trussed and braced as the container of Figs. 1, 2 and 3. To this end I provide the roof girders I I2 where the sections join and the corresponding oor girders I I 3 and connect the same by the tension and compression posts II4. Likewise, at the roof I provide the horizontal trussing ||5 and the vertical trussing |I-6 at the sides. Likewise, outside of the container I provide the girder I|1 where the bottom and side join, said girder being supported by the trussing ||8 on the ground girder I I9 resting on the ground |20. 'Ihe horizontal braces I 2| extend from the girder |20 to the wall of the tank substantially at the ground level.

In describing the invention, reference may be made to the following United States patents, namely: No. 1,622,787, Horton, March 29, 1927; No. 1,778,944, Horton, Oct. 21, 1930; No. 1,885,601, Horton, Nov. 1, 1932; No. 1,928,640, Boardman, Oct. 3, 1933; and to the following co-pending patent application, namely: Serial No. 21,886, led by Clayton L. Day, May 16, 1935. Throughout the speciilcation, I have spoken of flattened cylindrical sections. 'I'he end sections I0, I0 of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and the endless peripheral section', in-

cluding the portions I I 0 and I I0a of Figs. 4, 5 and' 6, preferably have a curvature so that their crosssection resembles the cross-section shown in the above-mentioned Horton and Boardman patents and the cross-section of the outer portion of the tank shown in the above-mentioned Day application. That is, the radii of curvature at successive points on the end sections I0 and ||0 and also on the sections |I0a from the'top down to the bottom in a vertical plane, through lines normal to th'e shell at such times, are successively shorter. Also, the bottoms of the intermediate sections are preferably not curved quite as much as the tops thereof.

'I'he formula referred to in Horton patent, No. 1,622,787 and Boardman patent, No. 1,928,640, may theoretically be used in developing the curves for the outer iiatten'ed cylindrical sections; but practically no strict adherence to this ideal form is necessary when the internal trussing and bracing and ex ternal bracing shown in the drawings is used. In actual use, the loading conditions are frequently not normal, for example, when there is gas pressure but substantially no liquid present, and vice versa. Since internal and external trussing, bracing, framing, tension and compression members, and the like, are preferably employed to take care of the stresses when the load conditions are not normal, it is ordinarily not necessary that the ideal curvature be'employed.

In general, and in a broad sense, it may be considered that the present invention is a combination of one or more of the inventions disclosed in one or more of the above-mentioned patents and application, or as an improvement thereon. In the form of container shown in Fig. 8, the intermediate sections 2li have a larger vertical diameter than the outer sections 2|0. In this form, however, the outer sections 2|0 form portions of a square-like peripheral flattened cylindrical section extending entirely around the container and closing the ends of the intermediate sections 2| I, 2| I. This is accomplished by providing the portions 2|0, 2I0ll joining the ends of the portions 2|0, 2|0 so that thefour sections 2I0, 2I0, 2|0, 2| 0 together constitute a squarelike peripheral endless flattened. cylindrical section extending entirely around the container. 'I'he vertical diameter of the sections 2| I is preferably made large enough so that the vertical distance between the upper and lower junction lines will be substantially the same as the vertical diameter or height of the section 2 I0. For example, the distance from A to B in Fig. 9 is substantially equal to the vertical height or diameter of the section 2|0 or the length of the line C-D. This construction will facilitate the drainage of water from the troughs at the top between the sections 2|I, 2||. Figs. 8 to l1, inclusive, I have shown two intermediate sections. It is obvious, however, that any number may be. employed.

In the form shown in Figs. 8 to- 11, inclusive, internal bracing similar to that shown in the device of Fig. 4 is employed. For example, roof` g'irders 2|2 are provided where the sections join. 2|3 indicate the corresponding floor girders and 2| 4, the tension and compression posts connecting the same. Likewise, at the roof I provide the horizontal trussing 2|5 and the vertical trussing 2|6 at the sides. Likewise. at the outside of the container, I provide the girder 2 I 'I where the bottom and side join, said girder being supported by the trussing 2|8 on the ground girder 2| 9 resting on the ground 220. 'Ihe horizontal braces 22| extend from the girder 2|9 to the wall of the tank substantially at the ground level.

I also provide triangular plates 250 to brace the ends of the sections 2I| where they project above the section 2| 0* and similar plates 25| at the bottom. Likewise, inside I provide triangular braces 250a at the top and 25 la at the bottom.

It will be seen that at the roof Where the topsl of the various sections or portions join such as at I2 in the device of Fig. 3, the curved tops meet at an angle less than While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, -in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims, in which it is my intention to claim all novelty inherent in my invention as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A closed container including a series of parallel horizontal elongated sections with upwardly curved tops, and bottoms, the curved tops meeting at an angle less than 180.

2. A container as claimed in claim' 1 in which the outer sections form portions of a square-like peripheral section closing the ends of the intermediate sections.

3. A container as claimed in claim 1 in which the outer sections form portions of a square-like peripheral section closing the ends of the intermediate sections and in which the height of the intermediate sections is substantially greater than the height of the outer peripheral section.

4. A container as claimed in claim 1 in which In the construction shoWnIinVA 5. A container as claimed in claim 1 in which the outer sections form portions of a square-like peripheral section closing` the ends of the intermediate sections and in which the height of the intermediate sections is substantially greater than the height of the outer peripheral section and in.

which the ends of the intermediate sections projecting above the outer peripheral section are braced by internal means. n Y

, GEORGE T. HORTON. 

